Why is my CH so rubbish? (Potterton Puma 100e Combi Boiler)

[adamtw]

Dipone,

I tried the 'dripping tap' test and even after an hour the heating was no different or better.

I can see that the replacement of the wax capsule would be fairly simple on its own, and its only a £12.99 part, however I feel there is more wrong with this boiler as the previous owners seem to have neglected it and paid for bodged repairs.

Its all going to happen tomorrow, so I shall keep you all posted.

Adam

 

[bengasman]

60 posts and six weeks later, maybe you should admit defeat and get a pro in

 

[Agile]

Its too much to read through but have you confirmed that the pump is working?

The DHW will still work even if the pump is failed!

Tony

 

[Softus]

Its too much to read

Are you sure it's not too much of something else?

 

[adamtw]

1. I Am getting a pro in, that's the point to the last 6 posts
2. Did take end nut off the pump, was spinning madly, did not remove pump head to check for signs of corrosion or buildup.

Diverter Valve in process of being replaced as I type: here are some pics of the old one once it was off:

 

[dipone]

that system is in a bad way did you put the wax valve in hot water

 

[adamtw]

no, why would I when the man is replacing it?

 

[adamtw]

OK, I said I would let you know how we got on, a bit of a mixed story but it IS all fixed, here's what happened:

Heateam man (Potterton Baxi Service team) arrived yesterday. He mentioned he had never worked on my type of boiler before and that he had only been with the firm for 3 months. Not a good start I felt.

He set about trying to diagnose the faults, I mentioned the Diverter valve and he seemed unsure. He spent about 5 hours messing about, going off to call colleagues, we went through the dripping tap test where he proclaimed we had a leaking tap (we don't), he sprunk leaks at every move, got more frustrated, swearing under his breath and basically made an arse of it. I told him I wanted to see the diverter valve and pump replaced, he didn't seem keen to do so. He went off on another call in his van (out of earshot) and came back....he was going to replace the valve afterall.

Anyway, to cut a very long story short, he was here for over 7 hours, in that time he did eventually repalce the diverter valve, fitted 2 pumps, broke both of them, replaced the water pressure switch and then left us with a boiler with no pump, so no heating or hot water. He managed to soak the PCB with a leak, then he dried it off with a hairdryer (my suggestion as he looked like he was about to have a breakdown himself) Then, he said the wires were warm, a sure sign the board was about to blow. I had to point out they were warm because he'd just been drying them.....

I was NOT happy. He did at least manage to ensure that we had another engineer out to us 2 days later. I was still not happy but I was glad to see the back of him.

Today (following day) we get a call from another engineer, a female one, she was passing by, could she pop in to fix it. YES!

She was here on time, got on with it, fitted a new pump, fixed the leaks, switched it on, tested it, told us the diverter valve was almost definitely the issue, and in under 20 minutes, practically ALL the radiators were hot AND the thermostat on the boiler is now set to very very low, whereas before it was always on maximum. No fuss or drama.

So, you were all right, it was indeed the diverter valve, and once a professional person was here, it was sorted very quickly, a new pump can't hurt either.

The rads that never got warm are now hot, I got home to a lovely warm home, its absolutely lovely.

Thanks for all your help, the knowledge has been invaluable.

 

[patagonia]

Aren't women wonderful? Are the pump and diverter valve part of your boiler, then? And did you get all that done for £299. Sounds cheap to me. My boiler is a Potterton and I am wondering whether I cd get the Heatteam to sort out our problems, since I'm not making much progress. They are not purely connected with the boiler, however so if they only work on the boiler, it's a non starter. I presume the wonder woman only has a limited territory. Where do you live?

 

[clf-gas]

Madam Patagonia, have you still not got your problem sorted

 

[Vic Spanner]

AdamTW, I feel sorry for you pal. (7 hours FFS). By your descripition i now what area your in, Glad you got it done wish i had got the job would have been in and out in 40 mins...Some women do have uses.

 

[patagonia]

clf gas -

Nope. Had a rep. from a heating firm round who said we didn't need a complete power flush as all the rads. got hot and they wd just put the p.f. machine on the boiler to stop the kettling (someone else has told me that p.f. won't cure it) and the kickspace which has stopped working again (spent a bomb on having it taken out and manually flushed and the hoses replaced earlier this year), replace the faulty MZV and put isolating valves either side of it and the other 2 MZVs to avoid draining down if they went again, instal a magnaclean, service boiler and suggested replacing existing Grundfos pump (Alpha l5-60 l30 variable speed) with a Grundfos 25x80 with 28mm pump valves. Our pump is working but he seems to think it's not big enough. He turned it up to max which made the nearest rads hiss which he said was normal. My feeling is that our pump is too powerful when a zone thermostat clicks on so there is a surge even when rads are turned down or have gone off, but who am I to say? It's certainly quieter when it's set nr the minimum. I have picked up that it's important to have the correct flow through the boiler and I asked him how one measured this and he said one couldn't; it was down to experience. However, I read the instructions about bypass arrangements for Alpha + variable speed pump and noted that it says one should have an integral flow meter if there is only a manual bypass valve, otherwise an auto bypass, so am not convinced. He didn't know what was causing the boiler to keep trying to turn on several times, once up to temperature, before firing again and wd have to ask his engineer (though he is supposed to be an engineer himself) but I haven't heard any more about this. I suggested replacing the faulty valve with the sort which can be replaced without draining down (I know Siemens and Honeywell do these now) and he had never heard of them and thought they might not be any good when I told him. He didn't have any suggestions as to what one cd do about the ticking noises in the pipes and upstairs rads whenever the zone or boiler stats click on and off. He didn't propose to put any chemical cleanser in the system and leave it to run for the required time before draining down but I gather some chemical (didn't specify what) wd be used for the power flush of the boiler and presumably kickspace, which is not on a separate circuit by the way so wd have to be taken outside to do this). His quote didn't mention ;putting in an inhibitor but maybe that's taken for granted

Have a guess what his quote was; we have 16 rads and 2 fan convectors inc. the kickspace. Anyway, it was enough to make me think I ought to get another opinion and quote. I faxed a letter to the Grundfor tech. dept. to ask their opinion about the pump but unfortunately have not had the courtesy of a reply .

I expect you are sorry you asked the question by now!

Patagonia

 

[Spooked]

At last adam, pleased for you.
I am not at all surprised to hear of the incompetence.
I have had many weeks of it myself.
I shall be updating my owm thread (pipe sizing part 2) very shortly.

 

[JamesHughes]

Top quality advert for Pottertons HeatTeam.

Not. (except for the final visit)


It seems that Adam's fears of cowboys was well founded. It's a real shame he didn't take on the task himself - maybe next time!!


Excellent diagnosis by the forum though!!

 

[adamtw]

Top quality advert for Pottertons HeatTeam.

Not. (except for the final visit)


It seems that Adam's fears of cowboys was well founded. It's a real shame he didn't take on the task himself - maybe next time!!


Excellent diagnosis by the forum though!!

Exactly! Even the manufacturer's people had different opinions on it. I know for a fact that one of the bloke's phone calls early on was to a colleague who said we had the dripping tap and that it was NOT the diverter valve. So, being spineless he just repeated it and didn't want to investigate it. It was only when a more experienced engineer (the female one) told him it was almost definitely the DV that he decided to change it, though he managed to make a 25 minute job last 5 hours, he was really incompetent.

Thanks to Stacy who did fix it, we now have a transformed house and not had the expense of replacing the boiler. She also pointed out to us that the flushing did nothing but push loads of rubbish into the boiler and made it worse, so you can bet that I will NOT be paying for that service by the cowboys down the road.

Great forum, will be back when I need it.

TTFN